Councils are to get an additional £140 million to fix roads damaged by England’s record wettest winter, the Government has announced.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said a fund specifically targeting the worst-hit areas would be raised by £36.5 million to £80 million.

All councils will also share in a £103.5 million boost to the money available for fixing potholes and other dangers to road users.

Town hall chiefs have demanded emergency cash to deal with a “daunting trail of destruction” to the already dilapidated network left behind by recent flooding.

Most councils are expected to receive the extra money by the end of this week in a bid to ensure works are completed before the summer holidays.

In return, they will be required to publish on websites by the end of August details of how it was used.

The Department for Transport said the funds – which take the total budget to £1 billion for 2013/14 – had been found through savings made elsewhere over the year.

Mr McLoughlin said: “Having the right infrastructure in place to support businesses and hardworking people is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan.

“This extra money will help make a real difference to the millions of road users and local residents who rely on local roads, giving them safer and smoother journeys.”

Town hall chiefs welcomed the extra cash but said it was unlikely to cover the full cost of the clear-up. Mike Jones, chairman of the Local Government Association’s environment and housing board, said: “We do not yet know what the full bill for the cost

of this winter’s devastating floods will be, but we expect it to be more than £140 million.

“Councils already face a substantial £10.5 billion shortfall to bring our roads up to scratch and this has been exacerbated by adverse weather, which seems to be becoming increasingly common.”

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